Compare towns
Wakefield vs Worcester vs Dedham vs Melrose
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the highest household income ($134k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Wakefield | Worcester | Dedham | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
207,055Highest |
25,237Lowest |
29,650 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
| Dedham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$133,953±$14k 29% above MA |
| Wakefield and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,970±$149 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 30% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,578 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Dedham | Melrose |
| High school in town | — | South High Community | Dedham High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.